Karachi, December 3, 2025: Pakistan is set to host its most lucrative squash tournament in more than 20 years, signalling a major step in the sport’s revival in a nation that once ruled the global squash arena.
The Karachi Open, a PSA World Tour Gold event with a combined prize purse of approximately $243,000, will take place from January 6 to 11 at the DA Creek Club — the same venue that staged the World U23 Championships earlier this year. It will be the first top-tier PSA event in Pakistan in two decades.
Both the men’s and women’s competitions will offer prize money of $121,500 each. Organisers confirmed that five of the world’s top 10 male players and three of the top 10 female players have committed to the event, underscoring Pakistan’s re-emergence as a credible host for elite-level squash.
Former world champion and current World No. 5 Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt leads the men’s draw as the top seed. Gawad, seeking his third title on Pakistani soil, previously lifted the Pakistan Open in 2018 and the Karachi Open in 2022. He enters the event on an eight-match winning streak in Karachi, making him one of the leading contenders.
World No. 7 Marwan ElShorbagy has been seeded second, followed by World No. 6 Youssef Ibrahim and former World No. 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, who now represents England. World No. 11 Mohamed Zakaria completes the top seeded group.
Pakistan’s contingent will feature World U23 champion Noor Zaman, along with Muhammad Ashab Irfan, Tayyab Aslam, and Nasir Iqbal. Both Tayyab and Nasir have been awarded wild-card entries.
In the women’s competition, Egypt’s World No. 3 and reigning World Junior Champion Amina Orfi headlines the field. Malaysia’s World No. 6 Sivasangari Subramaniam is seeded second, while Egypt’s World No. 9 Fayrouz Aboelkheir will compete as the third seed. Local talents Sana Bahadar and Mariam Malik have received wild cards into the main draw.
The tournament marks Pakistan’s most valuable squash event since the 2003 World Open in Lahore, which offered a $175,000 purse. Karachi has been steadily re-establishing itself on the international circuit, highlighted by the successful hosting of the World U23 Championships earlier this year.
For a country that produced legends such as Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, the return of high-profile PSA events is seen by officials as an important step toward rekindling Pakistan’s storied squash legacy.
The Karachi Open is expected to boost visibility, inspire young athletes, and accelerate investment in a sport that once brought Pakistan global glory.
